Friday 19th September 2025 ~ Issue 29
PARISH PRIEST: Fr Patrick Mugavin PRINCIPAL: Mrs Terrielynn Groves
SAC CHAIRPERSON: Mrs Joyce Nedziwe CHILD SAFETY OFFICER: Ms Tania Stevens
Child Safety Statement
School Values
Treat others the way you would like to be treated.
Respect Our School - Hormati Sekolah Kita
Do Your Best - Lakukan Yang Terbaik
Help Others to Succeed - Bantu Teman Untuk Berhasil
Important Dates
TERM 4
Monday 6th October - First day of Term 4
Thursday 23rd October - Catholic Social Teaching Day - details to come
Friday 24th October - Mission Day - details to come
Tuesday 4th November - Melbourne Cup Holiday
PUPIL FREE DAYS IN 2025
Friday 19th September - Structured Literacy
ADVANCE NOTICE
Wednesday 17th December - Last day of the school year for students
From the Principal
Dear Families,
What a concert! If you were lucky enough to see our students perform, you would have to agree that it was fabulous! We have had so much fun preparing for it and even more fun performing in the matinee and the evening performance. Thanks to our amazing families for supporting the concert through costumes, home practicing and buying tickets to the shows. A big thank you to our fantastic staff who were just as enthused as the children about the whole process! And, the biggest thanks goes to Tania Stevens who was the visionary behind the whole show - what a talented person she is!
In amongst this joy, our hearts are truly broken as we grapple with the news of the tragic death of our beautiful former student and colleague, Mackenzie Mason, who was killed last Sunday in an accident in Dunkeld. Mackenzie attended St Mary's and Monivae as a student and then returned to work with us in 2023 as an LSO, before heading off to university to complete her teaching degree. As a whole school, we were able to honour Mackenzie in a prayer service on Tuesday. We wrap our arms around Mackenzie's family and friends, the Dunkeld community and all those affected by this devastating event. Continue to keep them all in your prayers.
And so we come to the end of another term. It has been a huge one even though it was only nine weeks long. We can't wait to see what Term 4 will bring us!
Have a wonderful holiday, shared with those you love,
Terrielynn
Catholic School Culture
MASS TIMES – 2025
Hamilton: Saturday 6pm and Sunday 10.30am
Dunkeld: Sunday 8.30am
Glenthompson: Sunday 8.30am
Penshurst: Sunday 8.30am
Congratulations!
Congratulations are in order for staff member Latham Wishart and his partner Molly who will be married over the school holidays. We are so excited for them both and wish them every happiness for the future.
Farewell!
Yesterday we farewelled Eleanor Hinkley and her family as they move to Cavendish. We thank them for their wonderful support of our school and wish them every blessing in their new home and school.
Learning and Teaching
School Wide Positive Behaviours
School Wide Positive Behaviour Support is: A multi-tiered framework for establishing the social culture and behavioural supports needed for a school to achieve behavioural and academic outcomes for all students.
For the next two weeks at St Mary’s, we are working with our students on the following:
RESPECT - follow the instructions given to you
SAFETY - never make threats to anyone
RESPONSIBILITY - be curious!
Concert!
WOW!! What a show! I am sure you will agree, our Concert 2025 - 'A Night at the Movies', was one to remember!
To every single student - you should be so proud of yourselves - you worked so hard all term to learn your dance, your moves or your lines. Your hard work certainly shone through! You were AMAZING on that stage!
To our fabulous staff - this concert wouldn't have happened without your hard work and dedication. Thank you for working tirelessly with our students to get them 'performance ready'!
To our wonderful community - thank you for embracing our concert - for helping your children with costumes, helping them learn lines and coming along and supporting our concert. We truly appreciate it.
Now to pack away the sequins and face paint until next time - enjoy the holidays!
Tania Stevens
Staffing News
Ellen Whyte, one of our Gr 5/6 teachers, will be taking Maternity Leave for the duration of 2026 as she and her husband James welcome the arrival of their baby in late January. We were so thrilled to hear this wonderful news! We will be advertising Ellen's position this week. In other news, Tracy Keen, one of our LSOs, has shared with us that she is facing a cancer battle and will be taking leave for the rest of 2025. Our love, prayers and best wishes are with Tracy and her family and we hope to have her back with us in 2026.
Sports Catch Up
We have the most wonderful term of sport! It is amazing to provide such a diverse range of sporting opportunities at St Mary’s. Thank you to our community who make this possible by supporting our students in a range of ways. I am proud we can encourage our students to engage in as much sport as possible during these formative years to foster lifelong participation.
Netball Victoria School Championships
We were immensely proud of the team that played in the Netball Victoria School Championships Finals. The girls absolutely proved themselves on the big stage against tough competition. There were many close games and an impressive win! Well done to Johannah, Nina, Navvi, Alani, Libby, Bella, Marlee, Charlie, Lola and Lucy. You played incredibly well and it was lovely to hear that another coach went out of their way to pass on how impressed they were with your teamwork, kindness and general sportsmanship. Incredible job girls!
A heartfelt thank you goes out to the parents who supported the team’s journey to Melbourne. Your commitment was truly appreciated. We would also like to extend our sincere gratitude to Roxanne Holmes, who coached the team. Your time and expertise were immensely appreciated.
Results
Game One: Mirboo North PS 11 St Mary’s 6
Game Two: Melbourne Grammar 8 St Mary’s 7
Game Three: Toorak College 19 St Mary’s 7
Game Four: St Mary’s Ascot Vale 15 St Mary’s 8
Game Five: Belmont PS 15 St Mary’s 12
Game Six: St Mary’s 11 Pakenham Springs PS 8
HoopTime
Both HoopTime days were an absolute success and a joy to be involved in. Our students always have such fun and everyone played with great passion and terrific respect. It is always heartwarming to see the students learning the game, and the students who live for the game having such an incredible day.
We thank Tenai, Lauren, Emily and the Dunns who offered support for scoring for the Grade 3/4s. We also thank Simone, Renae, Dallas, Tanika and Megan who offered support for scoring for the Grade 5/6s.
Thank you to all the staff who supported our students on the day.
From the Grade 3/4 day we have the All Star Boys qualifying for Regional Finals. This will be held on Monday 20th October. From the Grade 5/6 day we have the one of our All Star Girls qualifying for Regional Finals on Monday 27th October.
Table Tennis Team Challenge
We had 8 students attend the WHP Table Tennis Team Challenge. Our girls team of Sophie, Navvi, Charlotte Rose and Claire had a great day winning 26 games in total. This saw them win the girls’ division. Sophie U was undefeated in the singles and only lost one doubles game. Our boys’ team of Chase, Deklan, Beau and Dylan had a tougher day, but seemed to enjoy themselves. St Pius won the day overall. We thank the parents who supported the team to attend. Thank you to Trudie Uebergang, who was our school supervisor for the event. Your passion, time and expertise surrounding this event have been invaluable.
Sporting Teams
Saturday Morning Netball
We have entered three teams in the Grade 3/4 division for Term Four Saturday Netball and two teams in the Grade 5/6 Division. More information will come next term. The Season will be played from Saturday 18th October – Saturday 29th November (except for Saturday 1st November – Melbourne Cup Weekend).
Regional Athletics
We are thrilled to say that 11 students have qualified for the Greater Western Region Championships. With several students in more than one event. This event is scheduled for Friday 10th October. Wowzers! Go St Mary’s!! To qualify for advancement to Regionals students must have finished in the top 6 in track events and the top 3 in the field events at Division Athletics. The top 3 relay teams also advance.
Regional Athletes
Jed P - Discus
Sean N - 800m & 1500m
Marlee L - 100m, 200m
Lucy O- High Jump
Beau P- Discus
Alaska B- 800m & 1500m
Isabella T - 1500m
Johannah W- 800m, Relay
Charlie M- Hurdles and Relay
Sophie U - Hurdles, 100m & Relay
Nina R- Discus, Shot Put & Relay
Dates for your Diary
TERM FOUR
October
Monday 6th - Friday 10th October - Grade 5/6 Swimming Program - FIRST WEEK BACK
Friday 10th October - Regional Athletics @ Ballarat
Saturday 18th October - Saturday Morning Netball begins
Monday 20th October - Regional HoopTime Grade 3/4
Monday 27th October - Regional HoopTime Grade 5/6
Thursday 30th October - District Cricket Grade 5/6
November
Monday 10th - Friday 14th November - Grade 3/4 Swimming Program
December
Thursday 11th December - Junior Athletics Carnival
Elise Gordon
egordon@smhamilton.catholic.edu.au
Woolworth's Cricket Blast
Here is link to sign up for Woolworth's Cricket Blast which will be held at the Monivae Cricket Hub.
Https://www.playhq.com/
Please see the flyer attached for more details.
Wellbeing
Child Safety
As we grapple with the tragic news of the death of Mackenzie, we know that many in our community will be feeling this deeply and it may bring up questions for both adults and children alike. School TV has a 'Grief and Loss' edition that may be helpful for you. I have attached a link below. Take care.
Tania Stevens
Leadership and Stewardship
Kitchen Garden
As it was the last day of term yesterday, we had a Celebrity Chef in to cook with the children. We thank Jordan from the Speckled Frog for coming in to work with our students.
The children thoroughly enjoyed making a chicken noodle stir fry, with fresh garden produce, and mini carrot cakes with lemon icing drizzle. Delicious!
Thanks again to Lyn and Judy for leading us this term We are looking forward to another exciting term in the kitchen.
Catherine Egan
Kitchen/Garden
Community Engagement
St Mary's Christmas Parade
This year our annual Christmas Parade will be held on Friday 5th December.
We have been thinking of what we can do for our raffle - perhaps something big?
We are also looking for lolly donations to make lolly bags to sell at the parade. If you are able to donate, can they please be pre wrapped like chuppa chupps, or lollies in little bags.
If you have any ideas please let us know.
Later in the year we will ask for helpers to assist the coordinators in the above roles and keen bakers to make gourmet gifts to sell (Christmas cakes, biscuits, rum balls etc) at our Gourmet gift stall.
If you have any questions regarding the Christmas Parade please contact Shannon at school.🎄
Assembly
Our next assembly will be on Friday 17th October at 2.55pm.
